Kwara lawmakers seek urgent relief for rainstorm victims

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

Kwara State lawmakers have urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to direct the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to liaise with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently provide relief materials for victims of the recent rainstorm in the state in order to alleviate their suffering.

The lawmakers made the call during their resolutions at a plenary session held on Tuesday in Ilorin, following a matter of general public importance raised by Hon. Yunusa Oniboki (Afon Constituency) concerning the destruction of property in Ogele and its environs in Asa Local Government Area. The motion was seconded by Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon (Edu Constituency).

The lawmakers also urged the governor to direct the Bureau of Statistics (BOS) to embark on a comprehensive assessment of the extent of the damage, to enable all three tiers of government to provide the necessary relief materials to the victims.

They further called on the Chairman of Asa Local Government Council to immediately provide palliative measures for the affected victims in order to ease their hardship.

Hon. Oniboki informed the House of the devastating rainstorm that wreaked havoc on Ogele and its surrounding villages on March 30, 2025, leaving a trail of destruction. According to him, the storm destroyed numerous homes, rendering many households homeless. Communities affected include Ogele Township, Eyenkorin Area, Apata Ajele, Olohunda, and Water View.

He noted that, in addition to private homes, public institutions such as schools and hospitals were also severely affected. While many buildings had their roofs blown off, others collapsed completely.

Hon. Oniboki stressed that the scale of destruction was beyond the capacity of the local government and called for urgent intervention from all tiers of government to prevent further hardship.

Other Honourable Members who contributed to the motion included Hon. Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu (Owode/Onire), Hon. Abdullahi Halidu Danbaba (Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe), Hon. Yusuf Abdulwaheed Gbenga (Essa/Shawo/Igboidun), Hon. Yusuf Atoyebi Musa (Odo-Ogun), and Hon. Mohammed Baba Salihu (Okuta/Yashikira).